MASL Announces International Expansion

BALTIMORE, MD- In a Press Conference on Thursday Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) Commissioner Josh Schaub discussed the future of the league, including the first MASL franchise in Canada. The MASL will kickoff in Toronto, Canada for the 2018-2019 season.

Led by CEO Sergio Giancola and President Peter Kovacs, the new group energized the press conference with their entry into the league. Kovacs spoke for the group as he explained the history of their journey into the MASL.

"17 years ago we went down to watch the NPSL All-Star game and our idea then was to bring arena soccer to Toronto," said Kovacs. "Last January we revisited the situation, and we started to do our due diligence. What really hooked us, our group went to Hermosillo, Mexico to see the second leg of the final and what an event that was. We made our decision then to go through the application process and I'm proud to say that in December 2016 the league accepted our application."

The team will play in the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, right in the heart of the Toronto metro area. They will begin play in 2018 in order to set up their staff and drum up local support of the franchise.

"We are very excited to bring in a group of this caliber to the MASL and to expand the league's reach into Canada," said Schaub. "With the inclusion of Toronto, we will further the league's fan base and the excitement of the game."

Kovacs closed out his remarks with a promise to the rest of the MASL.

"We are not coming into the league just to compete. We want to put a product on the field that will chase the championship right from the get-go."

Schaub also announced last night that the Brownsville franchise will resume play in 2017-2018 as the Rio Grande Valley Barracudas. The team will play in the 6,800 seat State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, TX. The MASL commissioner also noted that there were more announcements to come in the coming months.